ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Hydrogeochemical Processes Associated
with Double Salinization of Water in an Algerian
Aquifer, Carbonated and Evaporitic
Abdelhamid Saou1, Mustapha Maza1, Jean Luc Seidel2
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1Research Laboratory in applied hydraulics and Environment, University of Bejaia, Algeria
2UMR HydroSciences, University of Montpellier 2, France
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2012;21(4):1013-1024
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
For this study, geochemical data were examined to determine the main factors and mechanisms controlling
the water chemistry and the salinity of low Soummam basin in Algeria. Parameters such as pH, EC,
temperature, and major and minor element concentrations for two sampling campaigns at the extreme hydrological
regimes were considered. The analytical results obtained were interpreted using in particular the molar
ratios Na/Cl, Mg/Ca, SO4/Cl, B/Cl, Br/Cl, Li/SO4, and Sr/Ca, as tracers of hydrochemical evolution of water,
saturation indexes, and the comparison between the chloride content and the other major and minor elements
characterizing the salinization. The results obtained indicate the signature of seawater intrusion in the coastal
zone and the influence of gypsum outcrops in the upstream zone.